Help [Support Q] difference between "background data" and "auto-sync"

[mattcnz]

if i turn them both off will my email update every hour like i have it set? Or do i have to turn on one of them? I also noticed that in order to go to the market place i have to have background data on, why is this even though i can go onto the internet with both of the settings off? If you can't tell i'm new to android and would appreciate some help.

 

[THEFORCE]

no with backgorund data off, no data comes through in the background...you have to go bk to that accounts and sync menu and select which services you want to have turned off...and turn your background data on

 

[LS1]

...

 

[THEFORCE]

Your email will work fine with background data off. Everything that has timed syncing (ie, facebook every 2 hours), will sync every 2 hours. Widgets that display data however, will not work the way you're used to, you'll have to either set a sync schedule, or manually sync it.

is it the default email app that wont be affected? everytime i turn background data off, k9 mail wont update

 

[LS1]

I may be wrong - I thought I had switched off background data and things had still been working fine. Just checked it, and it was still on.

 

[SimonM123]

Sorry to bump a very old thread, but I really can't see what 'Background Data' and 'Auto Sync' do, effect, or what the difference is. I've got all the apps I can do set to manual updating. What difference do these things make?

Thanks

 

[marshalleq]

I am also trying to understand this. Mostly because I've potentially read that I need this to sync gmail to google apps properly, but can't find anything definitive. In my case I get the email when I go into gmail, but it doesn't syncronise back to my main gmail account. That means deleted messages aren't deleted, contact pictures aren't uploaded etc.

 

[marshalleq]

Well, I have an answer for you it seems, this is a little passage in the HTC Desire HD manual:

Background data
If this is selected, apps can send and receive online account information even if you are not currently using them.
Auto-sync
If this is selected, apps can use the sync schedule defined in the account settings. If this is cleared, you will need to sync accounts manually. For instructions on doing this, see

 

[marshalleq]

Ugh, some of the apps, (unbelievably facebook is one, no maybe that is believable) don't even have a sync option. So I can either sync contacts or not. No idea how often it tries. The Stocks app will only sync 4 hourly or more frequently and can not be turned off. Really do you think that many people are going to what updated stocks! Will try to remove that app. And why are there so many places to choose conflicting sync options. This should be centralised. Ugh!

 

[marshalleq]

Actually, I missed an option that turns stock sync off, so that ones OK, except that I assume it will never sync now even if I open the app....